Frances Bay
Born: 1919-01-23 in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada
Died: 2011-09-15
Known For: Acting
Biography
Frances Evelyn Bay (née Goffman; January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011) was a Canadian-American character actress known for playing a variety of quirky elderly women on film and television. In a career that spanned 35 years, she acted in a variety of roles both in film and television. After initial success in radio and stage plays, she became "The Girlfriend to the Canadian Forces" on CBC Radio during World War II, boosting troops' spirits. Marriage and a move to the U.S. led to a hiatus, during which she studied acting with Uta Hagen in New York. Returning to acting at 60, Bay featured in Foul Play and gained recognition in various TV shows like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and films such as The Wedding Planner and Twins. Her versatile career spanned over 50 films and numerous TV series, earning her awards and nominations. Notably, she appeared in the final episodes of sitcoms Seinfeld, Who’s the Boss?, and Happy Days. Bay was inducted in Canada's Walk of Fame in 2008.
Filmography
2025
- Happy Gilmore 2 as Grandma (archive footage)
2014
- Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
2011
- Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage as Aunt Barbara
2010
- Bare Knuckles as Rosie Mcintyre
- Pickin' and Grinnin' as Grandma Johnson
2009
- The Middle as Aunt Ginny
- Repo Chick as Granma De La Chasse
2006
- Hannah Montana as Cathy
- Edmond as Fortune Teller
- Ring Around the Rosie as Nanna
2005
- Annie's Point as Older Woman
2004
- In the Land of Milk and Money as Grandma Shallot
2003
- The Movie Hero as Wise Old Woman
2002
- Presidio Med as Joan Hart
- Kiss The Bride
2001
- My Wife and Kids
- The Wedding Planner as Dottie
- Bob Patterson as Laurie Evans
- Finder's Fee as Mrs. Darmsetter
- Oh, Baby as Edna Winchester
2000
- Stranger Than Fiction as Mrs. Steiner
- The Operator as Mrs. Sloan
1999
- Inspector Gadget as Thelma
- Goodbye Lover as Old Woman
- The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn as Mrs. Lewis
1998
- Charmed as Old Phoebe
- The Hughleys as Mrs. Fitch
- Da Vinci's Inquest
- Style & Substance as Elizabeth Hadley
- Krippendorf's Tribe as Edith Proxmire
- Forever Love as Martha Craddock
1997
- Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction as Mildred Grayson (segment "The Gift")
- Sparkler as Raspy
- Changing Habits as Midge
1996
- Clueless
- Suddenly Susan as Mrs. Tidgely
- Happy Gilmore as Grandma
- Never Too Late as Elisabeth Kronner
- Rossini's Ghost as Rosalie
1995
- In the Mouth of Madness as Mrs. Pickman
1994
- ER as Georgia
- The 5 Mrs. Buchanans
- The Paperboy as Mrs. Rosemont
1993
- The X-Files as Dorothy
- Dave's World as Daisy
- The Neighbor as Aunt Sylvia
1992
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me as Mrs. Tremond (Chalfont)
- Single White Female as Elderly Neighbor
- Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive as Iva Ruth McKinney
- Inside Monkey Zetterland as Grandma
1991
- The Commish
- Pacific Station as Celia Linder
- Critters 3 as Mrs. Menges
- The Pit and the Pendulum as Esmeralda
1990
- Twin Peaks as Mrs. Tremond
- True Colors as Tante Sylvia
- Wild at Heart as Madam
- The Grifters as Arizona Motel Clerk
- Arachnophobia as Evelyn Metcalf
1989
- Seinfeld as Mabel Choate
- Quantum Leap as Millie Reynolds
- Tales from the Crypt as Witch
- Alien Nation as Mrs. Gillirue
- Father Dowling Mysteries as Victoria's Grandmother
- The Karate Kid Part III as Mrs. Milo
- Class Cruise as Grandma
1988
- Twins as Mother Superior
- Police Story as Mary
- Big Top Pee-wee as Mrs. Haynes
1987
- The Oldest Rookie
- Medium Rare as Gertrude
1986
1985
- The Golden Girls as Claire
- Amazing Stories as Mrs Claus
- Amos as Lydia
- Movers & Shakers as Betty Gritz
- The Eagle and The Bear
1984
- Murder, She Wrote as Sarah McCoy
- Hunter as Emma Parsons
- The Karate Kid as Lady with Dog
- E/R
- Second Sight: A Love Story as Old Woman
1983
- Private School as Birdie Fallmouth
- Little Red Riding Hood as Granny
- A Rose for Emily as Miss Wyatt
- Wings as Mrs. Timmins
1982
- Cheers as Mrs. Brubaker
- St. Elsewhere as Mrs. Renninger
- Family Ties as Mrs. Florence Menlo
- T. J. Hooker as Mrs. Greene
- Cagney & Lacey as Edna Kiss
- Fame
- Newhart
- Remington Steele as Mother Trust
- Faerie Tale Theatre as Granny
- Double Exposure as Old Woman
1981
- Hill Street Blues as Elizabeth Mies
- Simon & Simon
- Amy as Mrs. Lindey
- Buddy Buddy as Female Patient
- Honky Tonk Freeway as Mrs. Lewenowski
- Callie & Son as Mabel Simpson
- A Whale for the Killing
1980
- The Attic as Librarian
1979
- Hart to Hart
- Chilly Scenes of Winter as Mrs. Delillo
- Topper as Mrs. Quincy
1978
- Foul Play as Mrs. Russel